Patrick Brown sues CTV for $8M over sexual impropriety story

An “emotionally devastated” former Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown has filed a lawsuit seeking $8 million in damages from CTV News.

Brown, who was forced to resign on Jan. 25, just hours after CTV broadcast a story alleging sexual impropriety with two women, filed a statement of claim Monday at the Barrie courthouse.

If the action is successful, it would be the largest libel award in Canadian history.

The lawsuit names CTV News president Wendy Freeman, anchor Lisa LaFlamme, reporters Glen McGregor, Rachel Aiello, and Travis Dhanraj, and four unnamed producers and editors.

It argues the network “falsely, maliciously, unfairly and irresponsibly broadcast” the stories that ended Brown’s tenure as the PC leader.

Brown has denied the allegations since an 81-second news conference held just 15 minutes before the Jan. 24 broadcast.

But his senior aides resigned en masse that night and he stepped down as party leader early the next morning, triggering a leadership race that ultimately saw Doug Ford take the party helm.

Bell Media’s director of communications, Matthew Garrow, said “CTV News stands by its reporting and will vigorously defend it in court.”